After a second year with new job of working and driving out in the bitter cold Canadian winter I made the decision 'not' to do a third! So left the job, rented out my home in Calgary and made preparations to travel SE Asia for 3 months. Just the thought of leaving daily responsibilities & packing the bare minimum to travel abroad, filled me with a sense of excitement, yet with slight trepidation. It has been many years since the lengthy backpack experience.

With the backpack dusted off, plane ticket purchased, hugs from family & friends, I head off to venture lands unknown to me...

Calgary - San Fran (5hrs) San Fran - Tokyo (11hrs) Tokyo - Bangkok (7hrs)...next time, pay a l'il more with no milk run! Landed in Bangkok, Thailand @ midnight semi-rested and fortunate enough to have a good friend living in Thailand pick me up. Nice not to worry about where to stay, what taxis to take & who to trust first time around in a new country...until ya get your feet wet of course!

Actually, I have two friends from Alberta living in Thailand with their Thai wife/fiancee, lucky for me. This was a big part of my decision to travel and a fantastic start to my overall trip through Asia. We arrive @ Phil's house in Ban Chang (hour south from Bangkok) which would be an envy for most Canadians; many rooms, hardwood floors and more importantly, air conditioning, yes, spoiled for sure. Wide awake due to time change, we visit with drink Tiger beer until the sun comes up! Nudacharee, Phil's fiancee cooks us a lovely meal the next day; my first taste of Thai, yum.

Following night, my other good friend Sandy & his wife Min come over from Pattaya (40min drive) and again, more beers...the only combat to jet lag I know. Other expats working in area, with their Thai girlfriends head out for a night of good food & drink! And was introduced to a nice Thai girl as well...welcome to Thailand And the story will continue...